scholarly journals Fostering an Understanding of Interprofessional Approaches to Geriatrics

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 444-444
Author(s):  
Anna Faul ◽  
Pamela Yankeelov ◽  
Sam Cotton

Abstract Serving older adults with multiple chronic conditions and variable social, emotional, or physical support effectively within the primary care setting requires an interdisciplinary approach to care, together with the integration of novel approaches to care coordination (Dorr et al, 2006). The purpose of this study is to examine the use of interprofessional learning models to educate a healthcare workforce that meets the needs of older adults by integrating geriatrics with primary care, maximizing patient engagement, and transforming the healthcare system. Specifically, the targeted learners for this curriculum were from a healthcare system in Belize that had no previous specialty training in interprofessional geriatrics care. The 4-day training took place in Belize with an interprofessional group of healthcare professionals that included social work, nursing and medicine. 100 learners participated in the trainings and including participants from social work, nursing and medicine. To evaluate the program, Kirkpatrick’s Training Evaluation Model (Kirkpatrick & Kirkpatrick, 2005) was used to determine if learners were satisfied with the content (reaction), skilled (knowledge & skill) and confident in their abilities to utilize the curriculum (application of knowledge & skills). Analysis showed that learners, irrespective of discipline, were satisfied with the program. All disciplines experienced significant differences in their self-efficacy with working on interdisciplinary teams from pre to post assessments. Specifically, there was an increase in learner’s confidence related to learning to work together cooperatively with other professions and how to communicate effectively with other members of an interprofessional team. Implications for future interprofessional curriculum will be discussed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S294-S294
Author(s):  
Pamela Yankeelov ◽  
Anna Faul ◽  
Joe D'Ambrosio ◽  
and Samantha G Cotton

Abstract Serving older adults with multiple chronic conditions and variable social, emotional, or physical support effectively within the primary care setting requires an interdisciplinary approach to care. Our GWEP program has developed an interprofessional education center that educates and prepares students and professionals from social work, medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and community health partners, to function within a transformed integrated patient-centered geriatric primary care and community-based service delivery system. Learners from multiple disciplines attend a face-to-face Interdisciplinary Case Management Experience (ICME) session lasting 2.5 hours. Sessions include learners from each discipline and, if possible, at least one community practitioner in small groups of 6–8 learners at each table facilitated by 1 faculty member. Approximately 1,200 learners have received the curriculum. To evaluate the program, Kirkpatrick’s Training Evaluation Model was used to determine if learners were satisfied with the content, skilled, and confident in their abilities to utilize the curriculum. Learners completed a satisfaction survey after taking each module, along with an interdisciplinary geriatric care knowledge test and self-efficacy test before and after taking each module to measure learning outcomes. Analysis showed that learners, irrespective of discipline, were satisfied with the program. All disciplines showed a significant increase from pre- to posttest for all 5 online modules achieving a mean post-knowledge score of 85% across all 5 online training modules. All disciplines experienced significant differences in their self-efficacy with working on interdisciplinary teams from pre to post ICME. Implications for future interprofessional curriculum will be discussed.


Author(s):  
Noah A. Schuster ◽  
Sascha de Breij ◽  
Laura A. Schaap ◽  
Natasja M. van Schoor ◽  
Mike J. L. Peters ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Delay of routine medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic may have serious consequences for the health and functioning of older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate whether older adults reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore associations with health and socio-demographic characteristics. Methods Cross-sectional data of 880 older adults aged ≥ 62 years (mean age 73.4 years, 50.3% female) were used from the COVID-19 questionnaire of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, a cohort study among community-dwelling older adults in the Netherlands. Cancellation and avoidance of care were assessed by self-report, and covered questions on cancellation of primary care (general practitioner), cancellation of hospital outpatient care, and postponed help-seeking. Respondent characteristics included age, sex, educational level, loneliness, depression, anxiety, frailty, multimorbidity and information on quarantine. Results 35% of the sample reported cancellations due to the COVID-19 situation, either initiated by the respondent (12%) or by healthcare professionals (29%). Postponed help-seeking was reported by 8% of the sample. Multimorbidity was associated with healthcare-initiated cancellations (primary care OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.09–3.50; hospital OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.28–2.74) and respondent-initiated hospital outpatient cancellations (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.04–4.12). Depressive symptoms were associated with postponed help-seeking (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06–1.24). Conclusion About one third of the study sample reported cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the first months of the pandemic, and this was more common among those with multiple chronic conditions. How this impacts outcomes in the long term should be investigated in future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S317-S318
Author(s):  
Jenny Ploeg ◽  
Marie-Lee Yous ◽  
Kimberly Fraser ◽  
Sinéad Dufour ◽  
Sharon Kaasalainen ◽  
...  

Abstract The management of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) in older adults living in the community is complex. Little is known about the experiences of interdisciplinary primary care and home providers who care for this vulnerable group. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare providers in managing the care of community-living older adults with MCC and to highlight their recommendations for improving care delivery for this group. A qualitative interpretive description design was used. A total of 42 healthcare providers from two provinces in Canada participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants represented diverse disciplines (e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers, personal support workers) and settings (e.g., primary care and home care). Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data. The experiences of healthcare providers managing care for older adults with MCC were organized into six major themes: (1) managing complexity associated with MCC, (2) implementing person-centred care, (3), involving and supporting family caregivers, (4) using a team approach for holistic care delivery, (5) encountering rewards and challenges in caring for older adults with MCC, and (6) recommending ways to address the challenges of the healthcare system. Healthcare providers highlighted the need for a more comprehensive integrated system of care to improve care management for older adults with MCC and their family caregivers. Specifically, they suggested increased care coordination, more comprehensive primary care visits with an interprofessional team, and increased home care support.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e046914
Author(s):  
Patrice Ngangue ◽  
Judith Belle Brown ◽  
Catherine Forgues ◽  
Mohamed Ali Ag Ahmed ◽  
Tu Ngoc Nguyen ◽  
...  

ObjectiveA patient-centred care interdisciplinary pragmatic intervention to support self-management for patients with multimorbidity was implemented in one region of Quebec, Canada. This embedded study aimed to evaluate the process of implementation.DesignA descriptive qualitative study was conducted in 2016–2017 using semistructured individual interviews. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to guide the data coding, analysis and reporting of the findings.SettingThe study took place in seven Family Medicine Groups in one region (Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean) of Quebec, Canada.ParticipantsTen managers (including two family physicians) and 19 healthcare professionals (HCPs), nurses, kinesiologists, nutritionists and a respiratory therapist, were interviewed.ResultsMany key elements within the five CFIR domains were identified as impacting the implementation of the intervention : (1) intervention characteristics—evidence strength and quality, design quality and packaging, relative advantage and complexity; (2) outer setting—patients’ needs and resources, external policies and incentives; (3) inner setting—structural characteristics, networks and communication, culture, compatibility, readiness for implementation and leadership engagement; (4) characteristics of the managers and HCPs—knowledge and belief about the intervention; (5) process—planning, opinion leaders, formally appointed internal implementation leaders, reflecting and evaluating.ConclusionThis study revealed the organisational and contextual aspects of the implementation based on different and complementary perspectives. With the growing demand for interdisciplinary teams in primary care, we believe that our insights will be helpful for practices, researchers, and policymakers interested in the implementation of disease prevention and management programmes for people with multiple chronic conditions in primary care.Trial registration numberNCT02789800.


10.2196/25175 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e25175
Author(s):  
David H Gustafson Sr ◽  
Marie-Louise Mares ◽  
Darcie C Johnston ◽  
Jane E Mahoney ◽  
Randall T Brown ◽  
...  

Background Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are common among older adults and expensive to manage. Two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries have multiple conditions (eg, diabetes and osteoarthritis) and account for more than 90% of Medicare spending. Patients with MCCs also experience lower quality of life and worse medical and psychiatric outcomes than patients without MCCs. In primary care settings, where MCCs are generally treated, care often focuses on laboratory results and medication management, and not quality of life, due in part to time constraints. eHealth systems, which have been shown to improve multiple outcomes, may be able to fill the gap, supplementing primary care and improving these patients’ lives. Objective This study aims to assess the effects of ElderTree (ET), an eHealth intervention for older adults with MCCs, on quality of life and related measures. Methods In this unblinded study, 346 adults aged 65 years and older with at least 3 of 5 targeted high-risk chronic conditions (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and BMI ≥30 kg/m2) were recruited from primary care clinics and randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to one of 2 conditions: usual care (UC) plus laptop computer, internet service, and ET or a control consisting of UC plus laptop and internet but no ET. Patients with ET have access for 12 months and will be followed up for an additional 6 months, for a total of 18 months. The primary outcomes of this study are the differences between the 2 groups with regard to measures of quality of life, psychological well-being, and loneliness. The secondary outcomes are between-group differences in laboratory scores, falls, symptom distress, medication adherence, and crisis and long-term health care use. We will also examine the mediators and moderators of the effects of ET. At baseline and months 6, 12, and 18, patients complete written surveys comprising validated scales selected for good psychometric properties with similar populations; laboratory data are collected from eHealth records; health care use and chronic conditions are collected from health records and patient surveys; and ET use data are collected continuously in system logs. We will use general linear models and linear mixed models to evaluate primary and secondary outcomes over time, with treatment condition as a between-subjects factor. Separate analyses will be conducted for outcomes that are noncontinuous or not correlated with other outcomes. Results Recruitment was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019, and 346 participants were recruited. The intervention period will end in June 2021. Conclusions With self-management and motivational strategies, health tracking, educational tools, and peer community and support, ET may help improve outcomes for patients coping with ongoing, complex MCCs. In addition, it may relieve some stress on the primary care system, with potential cost implications. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03387735; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03387735. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/25175


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ploeg ◽  
Marie-Lee Yous ◽  
Kimberly Fraser ◽  
Sinéad Dufour ◽  
Lisa Garland Baird ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC), the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions, is becoming more prevalent as the population ages. Primary care and home care providers play key roles in caring for older adults with MCC such as facilitating complex care decisions, shared decision-making, and access to community health and support services. While there is some research on the perceptions and experiences of these providers in caring for this population, much of this literature is focused specifically on family physicians. Little is known about the experiences of other primary care and home care providers from multiple disciplines who care for this vulnerable group. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of primary and home care healthcare providers in supporting the care of older adults with MCC living in the community, and identify ways of improving care delivery and outcomes for this group. Methods The study used an interpretive descriptive design. A total of 42 healthcare providers from two provinces in Canada (Ontario and Alberta) participated in individual semi-structured, face-to-face 60-min interviews. Participants represented diverse disciplines from primary care and home care settings. Inductive thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Results The experiences and recommendations of healthcare providers managing care for older adults with MCC were organized into six major themes: (1) managing complexity associated with MCC, (2) implementing person-centred care, (3), supporting caregivers, (4) using a team approach for holistic care delivery, (5) encountering challenges and rewards, and (6) recommending ways to address the challenges of the healthcare system. Healthcare providers identified the need for a more comprehensive, integrated system of care to improve the delivery of care and outcomes for older adults with MCC and their family caregivers. Conclusions Study findings suggest that community-based healthcare providers are using many relevant and appropriate strategies to support older adults living with the complexity of MCC, such as implementing person-centred care, supporting caregivers, working collaboratively with other providers, and addressing social determinants of health. However, they also identified the need for a more comprehensive, integrated system of care.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Pearson ◽  
Kavitha Bhat-Schelbert ◽  
Janice C. Probst

Background: As the United States population ages, chronic conditions are becoming more prevalent and our healthcare system is faced with increasing costs. This aging population with increased multiple chronic conditions coupled with increased burden of disease will provide a challenge to primary care physicians to provide quality care that is cost-effective. Therefore, we examined national data to study the impact of chronic conditions, age and caregiving on lifestyle burden. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for the presence of 9 chronic health conditions, including angina/coronary heart disease (CHD), arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart attack, hypertension, obesity, and stroke, and average number of chronic conditions among persons 50 years of age and older. Lifestyle burden, measured by activity limitation, required use of assistive devices, and/or serving in a caregiving capacity was measured and stratified by number of chronic conditions. Results: All conditions except obesity and asthma increased with each age category. By age 70, the majority of adults had hypertension (60.7%) and arthritis (55.0%). Prevalence of activity limitations and use of assistive devices increased as did the numbers of chronic conditions. Discussion: These findings point to a changing population of patients for primary care physicians that will require treatment of multiple chronic conditions as well as increased burden of disease. As this population grows, workloads for primary care physicians will increase and could likely lead to inefficient care and possibly inadequate payment for the required level of management. Therefore, the current challenge facing our healthcare system is to evaluate existing models of care for older patients and to develop new models that are cost-effective while at the same time providing fair reimbursement for increased management.


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